The King’s Tainted Mate
Chapter 56

Despite my protests over dinner and my not so wise decision to stay away from her because of my own guilt, I had found myself looking forward to spending the day by Shyla's side. More so because she had not changed or hinted at changing her mind even after the regrettable way the night had ended. Morning would not come fast enough, however. I had tossed and turned a thousand times, but the night was bent on taking its damn time before it let the daylight through, turning my anticipation for the day ahead into anxiety. And when I could no longer take the knots in my belly that only seemed to get tighter, I'd decided to get planning. Which involved nothing but me ensuring that our little intimate journey did not get interrupted by unwanted guests. I would not have a repeatition of Dovah even though it was highly unlikely to happen in the capital.

An intimate journey... I smiled to myself as my eyes finally welcomed the dawn of the day meant to be spent in my mate's presence. Even when I had no idea what she wished to do in the capital, I'd already decided I would make the most of it. That is why I'd sent more soldiers into the capital of Xatis. It was not the whole army as Liira had suggested, but it was a considerable number. Rakon had thought I was insane for doing so knowing how many more guarded the city, but this was my mate and child. I would not be taking any chances, my pride be damned.

"That's the last of them." Rakon yawned when he walked back into my study. I had left him to handle the final security details while I proceeded to bathe and dress up. "Woah!" His eyes widened before a smirk settled on his lips. "I'd really hate to be your mate today. What are you trying to have her do, devour you at first sight?"

That would be very preferrable. My wolf and I would glory in that, but we would settle for the way she'd taken me in last night. The surprise that had morphed into total appreciation, ogling as Astryn had rightly blurted out. If I'd known less was more in her eyes, whatever I wore last night and right now would have been my daily gift to her. "That's okay. You are not that pretty anyway."

Rakon's lips curled in a pout. "Perhaps you'd prefer a new head of the king's guard then?"

"We both know that will only be acceptable with your death." I swung around, eyebrow raised, hand on my blade. "Are you offering?"

"Tomorrow, perhaps." He straightened up, armed with seemingly new determination. "Right now I have to ensure that my king does not trip on his own toes or make a fool of himself in front of my future queen."

I scoffed at that, but still accepted the thing to keep me from making a fool of myself.

"To you, your majesty. And to your success at staying on your feet as long as it's called today." I shook my head as I toasted to my best friend's ridiculous words.

Perhaps wine was not the best way to start the day. Or maybe it was having more than one cup of it as I waited for the sun to completely rise before I excitedly rushed to knock on the doors to mate's chambers. "Your majesty?" Astryn's panicked gaze took me in before she dropped her head down. "Good morning."

"I'm here for my mate." I declared with all the enthusiasm in the realm.

"About that."

"What, has she changed her mind?" My gaze shot past the maid and into my mate's chambers, disappointment nipping at my insides.

"Oh no, it's not that. It's just..." The maid craned her neck towards the room before pulling the doors shut. "It's just that she did not sleep very well and is in a bit of a mood today, so be forewarned. Although, if you are not her sister or say nothing of her sister, you should be safe. I think." The maid's apologetic look was not very promising, but I was her mate and would definitely not be speaking of my chosen mate. I should be able to calm her down, right?

Wrong. The doors pulled wide open, the force speaking of the annoyance of the person on the other side. When her gaze met mine, I smiled, but her lips pressed in a thin line. "You are late." I could have defended myself. Could have pointed out that it was still too early for us to be riding for the capital, but I held my tongue, choosing not to have my head bitten off.

"Forgive me, if my lady is ready, we can leave right away." I held out my hand. A brow lifted, seemingly in protest, but a beat, then two and those beautiful eyes sparkled with appreciation at what she saw. It did not linger for as long as I had wished for before she slipped her arm in mine. Our contact drained out some of the tension as I felt her relax and the edge on her wolf fade.

"Where exactly in the capital should we be headed?" I took in her beautiful form as I helped her into the carriage. She was dressed in a less formal, almost ordinary gown, but she still looked amazingly beautiful. Something I could swear grew with her growing belly. The only flaw was that the gown concealed her bulge almost completely and the sight of it had annoyance bubbling. Just as with every wolf, my wolf and I wished for nothing but to show off the part of us that our mate carried and this gown deprived us of that. "I do not know yet."

"You do not know?" I noted how she shifted uncomfortably in her seat and wondered why.

"I will, by the time we get there." It was a weird way to journey, but I nodded regardless. It was her day after all.

Advising Rakon accordingly, the ride to the capital began as a slow march out of the palace gates and eventually picked up when we got to the main road. Inside the carriage, silence ensued, with my mate getting lost in the views outside. My gaze stayed on her the entire time. I meant to relish the opportunity to just admire her beautiful face, but every so often her features contorted painfully.

"Are you alright?" I couldn't take it anymore. Something was wrong and I was not going to just sit by and watch.

"Actually, no. My back won't let me be this morning. It is a bit sore." For someone who was in a bit of a mood, her answer was surpringly calm and completely unexpected.

But a bit? It did not seem like it to me. As it was taking her everything to hold on when that spell took hold. "What can I do?" I knew heading back would not be an option if she'd decided to still get in the carriage even with all the discomfort.

"Do?" Her eyes widened in response, as if the very idea was preposterous, but I wouldn't let that stop me.

"I mean there is something to be done, right? If not to stop it then to ease the discomfort."

"There is." The colour that filled her face only meant the thing to be done was something uncomfortable or improper. At least for her.

I, however, wouldn't let her suffer just so she could keep to some useless etiquette. "Well?"

Her eyes went everywhere but on me. "The carriage is not exactly as my bed chambers."

"We can stop if space is what is neede-"

"No!"

"No?" I frowned. "You did just say-"

"I will not have the whole world watch their king while he caresses a pregnant she wolf." Somehow I doubted that was her concern at all. I was not about to point it out either, least I made her discomfort worse by uttering something that would be embarassing. "Why don't you tell me what it is that needs to be done and I'll be the one to see how I can get it done.

"It is nothing more than a message of my lower back." That I could do and before she could say anymore, I positioned myself behind her.

"What do I do?" I followed her instructions, but nothing seemed to work. She was still in pain, no matter how much I pressed as she'd asked. "Are you certain this is the way to do it?"

"It is!" She all but snapped, but not because she was mad. "I mean, I'm usually undressed when she does it, but that is definitely the way." I froze, hands resting on her tiny waist while the rest of me got assaulted with visions of her back. Bare and inviting. I swallowed hard, reining in my desire before it ran wild. I could do this. There was nothing to it. If only she wasn't my mate and I had not spent every night since the day I pleasured her thinking of her naked, in my bed, moaning my name. "May I?"